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Probe Narela land scam: HC

TNN | Nov 27, 2010, 03:11 IST

NEW DELHI: Dismissing the anticipatory bail of a property dealer, the Delhi high court on Friday ordered an inquiry and arrest of cops and revenue department officials allegedly involved in a wide-spread racket of converting agricultural land into unauthorized colonies in collusion with property dealers in Narela. Justice Shiv Narayan Dhingra gave the order while dismissing the anticipatory bail plea of one such property dealer Praveen Khatri for his alleged involvement in the racket. Dismissing his plea, Justice Dhingra asked Narela police probing the racket to arrest him and his accomplices. "Conversion of agricultural land into unauthorized colonies by property dealers for their personal gains and duping persons and cheating them and that too with the involvement of local police and revenue department is the larger issue,'' Justice Dhingra said while rejecting Khatri's plea. He also dismissed Khatri's contention that he had sent only eight plots but returned the money in two cases after reaching a compromise with the parties, and was therefore, blameless. "Investigating Officer is directed to apprehend all concerned officials involved in this case together, along with the petitioner and interrogate them and the petitioner be not singled out by the IO,'' Justice Dhingra said, broadening the ambit of the probe. HC then sought a status report about investigation and action taken by December 22. The Anti-Corrpution Bureau of Delhi government is probing the alleged land conversion racket at Gautam Colony, Sanjay Colony, Vishal Enclave, Swatantra Nagar and Safiabad Road in Narela. It has registered a case against over half a dozen property dealers and certain unnamed officials of the revenue department, DDA, MCD and Delhi Police. Inquiries revealed that from 2007 onwards, some property dealers and others allegedly acquired agricultural land at "non-competitive prices'' and sold it to private persons concealing the fact that the land was not meant for residential purposes.